14. Vivian
Vivian
the next day
N eon lights illuminating the bowling alley glare harshly against the night sky and even though it’s newly August, a chill runs through me. “Mi amor, are you cold?” Michael asks, his arm tightening around my shoulders as we walk inside.
“Just nervous,” I admit as I velcro myself to him.
“You have nothing to be worried about. They’re gonna love you and if they don’t, I don’t care anyway.
” His words reassure me, but I’m still a little anxious to be here.
My devil-may-care attitude isn’t enough to protect me now.
Because for the first time, I really do care about what these people think.
Although they’re ‘just’ coworkers, I know how that goes in work spaces.
Michael spends a lot of time with these guys.
These are the only people he knows in Atlanta, and I want to make a good impression on them.
“They’ll just give us a little shit for how much time we spent on the phone that first week, but they’re actually really eager to meet you. “
“I’m the one who kept you from getting any work done? Yeah, that makes me sound really great.” My sarcasm betrays my nerves.
He laughs and tips my chin up at him with one finger. “Seriously, mi amor, you have nothing to worry about. And I’ll be with you the whole time.”
I sigh, and clutch his arm a little tighter. Showtime. Straightening my spine, I tell myself this is no big deal, and I want him to see me comfortable with his crew.
We enter into the brightly lit room. The garish zig zag of neon on the walls reflects on the bowling lanes, and the tables and chairs look new.
But fresh furniture and decor aren’t enough to disguise years of stale beer and cigarette smoke cloying the air.
Popcorn grease overpowers it all, making my anxious stomach even more queasy, and I petulantly begin to wonder just how long we have to make an appearance here before we can escape.
Michael grabs some shoes for us from the rental station and looks for his work colleagues.
A large cluster of people who look like they’re on their third pitcher of beer draws our attention with raucous laughter, and Michael grimaces apologetically.
“That would be them,” he says as he leads me toward the circus monopolizing the space.
“ Michael! ” a man in a teal t-shirt roars, and I realize the group are all wearing matching shirts with the company logo emblazoned on the back. “‘Bout damn time you got here! And you brought your phone operator.” He winks at me.
My eyes widen, then narrow. What the hell?
“No, no, no, this is Vivian, my girlfriend ,” Michael emphasizes as he corrects his friend. I look between them, waiting for them to clarify. Michael’s cheeks darken as the other guy continues.
“Yeah, we figured Michael had to have a phone sex operator on the line because he hates talking on the phone. And since he spent so much time on it with these swoony eyes, it was the only possible explanation,” the guy regales, clearly relishing the story.
Ah, if that’s the case, I’ll accept the nickname. Laughter bursts from me at the thought as I say, “I’ve been called many things, but this is a new one.”
“Zip it, Hank.” Michael glares his way, but I can tell he’s not truly mad.
“Hmm, do you like my phone sex voice, lover boy ?” I say, dragging out the words in a sultry tone.
His eyes flash dark as he leans over and growls in my ear, “Keep those sexy sounds for you and me only, mi amor.” With a light pinch to my ass, he takes my hand and leads me up to our lane. I swallow. I didn’t expect to like that pinch so much… or the hint of jealousy it implied.
Michael wraps his arm around my waist as he introduces me to his friends, getting wrapped up in conversation with one of them.
There’s about a dozen people altogether, and I start scoping out the girls to see who looks most approachable.
The guys seem to be well on their way to their beerdom, and I don’t think I want to chat with them all that much anyway.
But I also don’t want Michael to feel like he has to babysit me and it’d be nice to talk to another woman.
A girl with light brown hair and shining blue eyes rushes up to me, a broad smile on her face as she takes my hands in hers.
“Vivian, I’m so glad you came! I’ve been dying to meet you,” she gushes.
A little taken aback by her enthusiasm, I give a small nod and try to form a smile.
“I’m Janice, and that lump over there,” she thumbs behind her to a red-haired guy with a beard, “is my boyfriend Adam.” The guy in question salutes me and walks over with his hand outstretched.
“It’s great to meet you, Vivian,” he says and again I’m left wondering how all these people know my name already.
Seeing the confusion on my face, he laughs.
“Don’t be so surprised. Michael’s kind of a hard nut to crack.
He doesn’t go out much and when he started spending all that time on the phone…
well, we had to find out who was bewitching our fearless leader.
” My mouth drops open until I see the twinkle in his eyes, and I remember to shut it.
“Shh, don’t tell him, but I covered for him the last time he was late to a meeting because he was still on the phone with you. ”
Okay, now I am blown away. I didn’t realize Michael was shirking his duties to talk to me. “He just seems so responsible.”
“Oh, he is. He’s the most driven supervisor I’ve ever had.
But when he spent so much time locked up in his office and then started walking around with a big ole grin on his face…
well, we knew something was up.” He smirks again, but it’s obvious he means it in fun.
“And apparently that something, or some one , is you.” Janice smiles up at him, clear adoration on her face.
“And you? How long have you two been together?” I ask, attempting to draw the attention away from me.
“Two years,” she replies, her hand on his chest. “We’ve moved from project to project. I like the adventure of new places.”
“And how long have you known Michael?”
“About a year,” a new voice cuts in. I turn to my right and look into frosty cold eyes. The girl’s hair is a ravishing auburn, and her grey eyes would make her a stunning looker if it weren’t for all the ice she’s sending my way.
“Okay…” I say, not sure what to make of this sudden insertion into the conversation.
“Michael and I go way back to when he started here,” she informs me, the possessiveness clear in her tone.
I stiffen and begin to calculate in my head.
One: who is she? Two: who is she to Michael?
And three: I don’t know who this chick thinks she is but she’s about to get more than just a Bless-Your-Heart if she doesn’t back down.
“Sorry, didn’t catch your name?” I ask with just as much acid as she gave me.
“Abigail,” she responds haughtily, looking down her nose.
“Well, Abigail, I’m Vivian.”
“I know who you are,” she shoots back.
“Funny, but I’ve heard Michael mention a lot of coworkers' names, and I don’t remember him saying anything about an Abigail.”
“That’s because we aren’t just coworkers,” she starts, stepping closer to me.
My nostrils flare and my fists tense at my side. Clearly there’s a history here, but I’m the one who woke up in his bed. I’m the one he came here with tonight and if she thinks she can intimidate me…
“There you are, my lady,” a low voice breaks the tension surrounding us as Michael appears to my left.
Running a hand up to cup the back of my neck, he crashes his lips to mine, kissing me full on in front of everyone.
His other hand grabs my waist, pulling our bodies flush against each other.
His mouth is hot and heavy, and I’m shocked when he slips his tongue inside, deepening the kiss.
Every part of me electrifies at his touch, my eyes falling shut at the heat of his presence, and I can almost forget that there are other people around us.
“I missed you,” he says after breaking away with ragged breaths and cupping my jaw as he searches my eyes.
I see concern and warmth in his, and I give him a small smile.
With one more quick peck to my forehead, he turns to the small audience that’s accumulated in front of us. “Ah, I see you’ve all met my girlfriend, Vivian,” he announces, scanning the group, stopping briefly to level a hard look at Abigail.
The girl’s face pinches up, and she turns in a huff to retrieve a bowling ball from the chute.
More people come up to introduce themselves, holding out their hands to shake, but I can’t focus on their names.
Can’t focus on anything but that kiss—and the girl who seemed to provoke it.
As soon as there’s space to breathe, I ask Michael quietly, “So… ex-girlfriend, huh?”
He turns to look straight into my eyes. “Nope.”
When I arch my brow in an are-you-kidding-me scowl, he laughs, finds a seat, and drags me onto his lap. “Never a girlfriend. We had a few dates, and that was it. She wanted more, and I didn’t. When you know, you know.” He plants a soft and intentional kiss to my lips.
Sweet kisses shouldn’t have the power to thrill me to my core, but his do.
“I learned a long time ago that if the person you’re dating isn’t someone you can see yourself spending the rest of your life with, then you’re just playing around.
I don’t like wasting time, and I won’t waste anyone else’s time either.
It wouldn’t be fair to either of us.” My whole body tenses and the shock on my face must register with him because he wraps his arms tighter around me.
Stroking my hair, he presses his forehead to mine.
“I know what I want, Vivian, and it’s right here.
Do you feel it too?” His eyes bore into mine.
They’re full of passion, need, and… something stronger than the words he spoke to me the other night.